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Friday, July 13, 2007

Rap Tribute for Killed QPR Youth Player Kiyan Prince

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Rap tribute for Kiyan Harrow Times/ Tristan Kirk

FOOTBALL and music has come together in the continuing fight against knife crime.

Players from Queens Park Rangers Football Club filmed the video on Tuesday this week for a new single calling for an end to gang culture in Britain.

The single, called Put the Knives and Guns Down, was recorded by MC Tinie Tempah and singer Maresa MacBeth as a tribute to murdered Edgware teenager Kiyan Prince.

Kiyan was stabbed to death last May as he tried to break up a fight, and his father Mark co-wrote the song in his memory.

Since his son's death, he has launched a high profile campaign against gang culture in Britain. This has included an ITV/ITN documentary shown last week about his struggle to cope with Kiyan's death and campaign to highlight the dangerous knife culture among Britain's teenagers.

Kiyan was a promising young footballer, and was due to make his debut for Queen's Park Ranger Football Club when he was murdered. Players from the club agreed to appear in the video to pay tribute to Kiyan and help raise awareness of the campaign.

A host of television, film and music stars, including David Beckham, rapper Goldie, and singer Corinne Bailey Rae have also come forward to support the campaign. They have been pictured wearing a Put the Knives and Guns Down T-shirt in a bid to raise awareness and persuade young people to shun violence.

The single is due to be released on August 6 through De Angelis Records, and all proceeds will be donated to the Kiyan Prince Foundation. Harrow Times